NIC Japanese Language School

日本の暦
現在 8月 昔 葉月（はづき）　大暑　（太陽暦　９月２４日ごろ）
いわれ［意味］：葉月の語源は秋に由来し、木々の葉が落ちる「葉落月」が
「葉月」となったといわれます。
　　　　　　　　ほかに　月見月　萩月、仲秋などの異名がある。
花：日本的な花は　８月も「あさがお」が代表的、その他は撫子（なでしこ）
９月近くなると次第に秋の花に変わってくる。
季節：７月２０日頃梅雨も明け学校は夏休みに入る。
７月末から８月にかけて１年の一番暑い時期。
しかし８月後半は暑いながら次第に秋の気配がする。
行事：官公庁・会社もお盆休みと言ってお正月と並んで大型の休みに入る。
お盆というのは略称で、正式には孟蘭盆会（うらぼんえ）というそうである。
お盆の由来は、釈迦の弟子、目連（にちれん）が釈迦の教えに従って　
なくなった母親の供養をしたところ、餓鬼道に落ちて苦しんでいた母親を
　　　助けることができた。　その日供養をした日が７月１５日だったという。
期間各地の違いがあるが太陽暦７月１３日から１６日　または１ヶ月遅れの
８月１３日から１６日に行う。会社の休みが８月１３日からなので
月遅れで行われるところが多い。７月８月の違いはなく、１３日が迎え盆　
１６日が送り盆、１４日　１５日は、精霊が降りてきて家にとどまっているという考えも、
地方や宗派を問わず同じである。
家族親戚（かぞくしんせき）が集まり先祖の霊が帰ってきたということで供養する。
丁度クリスマスに家族が集まるのと同じような楽しみな行事。

暦　：立秋（りっしゅう 8／ 7頃） 24節気・お盆（おぼん 8／15）
月遅れ盆・処暑（しょしょ 8／23頃）

大暑（たいしょ）Mid summer 　太陽暦solar calendar　由来するoriginate
葉落月fall of the leaf　　月見月enjoy the moon　萩月　Hagi is flower’s name
撫子（なでしこ）Flower’s name　供養(くよう) a memorial service ・・Buddhist canon　
餓鬼道（がきどう）avaricious departed parsons・・・Buddhist canon
迎え盆　have ancestor 送り盆　send along ancestor 精霊（せいれい）spirit　
霊（れい）spirit　　立秋（りっしゅう）beginning of fall
処暑（しょしょ）beginning of fall but still hot days
　
来月に続く　See you next Month　“August”
NIC instructor Keita Suzuki
NIC Japanese Language School


http://www.nicjapanese.com

NIC Japanese Language School

　Fireworks Shows 花火大会(はなびたいかい)

Fireworks shows (花火大会：はなびたいかい)in summer can be enjoyed in Japan.
It is the annual Noryo Fireworks Festival. Noryo means “evening cool.”
From early afternoon on the days of famous fireworks shows,
streams of people in party mood begin trickling into the places,
many of whom clothed in yukata (informal cotton kimono) waiting for
the shows in lines under the scorching sun. The atmosphere in the crowd
will change dramatically when the first of the evening’s fireworks
are set off skyward . It is a very exciting and fantastic moment to the spectators.
It’s astonishing to think that Japan has about 7,000 fireworks events
nationwide every summer.

History
The origin of fireworks is said to be from signal fires in China.
The history of fireworks of Japan started in 1549, when guns
and gunpowder were introduced by Lusitanians.It was recorded
that Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first Shogun of the Edo Government saw fireworks
from the Edo castle. As fireworks manufacturers had improved
their skills during the Edo period (1604-1868),
　fireworks became summer entertainment for the public by the 18th century.
The Sumida River Fireworks Festival, one of the oldest fireworks shows
in Japana was set up as annual summer event by the eighth shogun,
Tokugwa Yoshimune in 1733.
The event was prepared to dispel evil spirits and comfort the souls of the dead ,
as the previous year saw epidemics
in Edo (current Tokyo) and a nationwide famine which killed about one million people.
In the Meiji-period (1868 〜1912), Japanese fireworks makers used
imported chemicals for creating fireworks and were
constantly improving their technique.
As a result,
Japanese fireworks became as colorful and sparkling as they are now.
With 340-year history, Kagi-ya is the oldest fireworks factory in existence in Japan.
Kagi-ya allowed the salesclerk early 19th century to set up
his own firework factory called
Tama-ya,but Tama-ya was forced to close its business because a big fire
destroyed the factory.
Even now the onlookers often shout “Tama-ya” as well as “Kagi-ya”
in place of applause.

The Japanese and Hanabi
Why do the Japanese see and love the fireworks displays ?
National love for the events is quite understandable when you consider
the character of the Japanese.
The mid-summer evening big fireworks shows suit the taste of the Japanese.
We cherish short-lived beauty, such as that of cherry blossoms in spring, which are
at their best for only a couple of days. The enjoyment of fireworks is along
the same line..

It is impossible to list all of them here, but here are some most popular:
Sumidagawa Hanabi Taikai, July 26th(Sat): to be held on the Sumida River,
centering on Sakurabashi and Kototoibash Bridges and on Komagatabash and
Umayabashi Bridges, from 19:10 to 20:30
Access: Subway Ginza line or Toei Asakusa Line to Asakusa Station
Jingu Gaien Hanabi Taikai: August 7th(Thurs): to be held from 19:30 to 20:30
Access: Subway Ooedo Line or Ginza Line to Aoyama-icchome Station
Tokyo Bay Daihanabi Taikai: August 10th (Sun): to be held from 19:00 to 20:20
Access: Subway Ooedo Line to Kachidoki Station or Yurakucho Line
to Toyosu Station

If you want to set off Hanabi in your yard, I recommend you to get
toy fireworks.
Originally they are for children, but you can enjoy them
with your family and friends.
They can be available easily at a toyshop and a convenient store.

NIC Instructor Sachiko Hamano

NIC Japanese Lunguage School



http://www.nicjapanese.com